Job Description

Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Postdoctoral position in lncRNAs and human diseases at NIH

A postdoctoral position is available in Haiming Cao’s laboratory in the Cardiovascular Branch of NIH, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The Cao lab is one of the first laboratories established through the NIH Earl Stadtman investigator recruitment, and is supported by mouse transgenic, human iPS, high-throughput sequencing, proteomics, advanced microscopy, animal surgery and bioinformatics core facilities. With an interdisciplinary research environment and strong intramural support, this position provides a unique opportunity for recent PhD awardees to deepen and broaden their research profile for advancing to an independent academic career.

The Cao group studies the molecular and pathological basis of complex human diseases particularly diabetes, cardiovascular disorders and fatty liver disease with the goal of identifying novel therapeutic interventions. The lab has recently identified a large number of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) function as important metabolic regulators in mice and could constitute a new class of RNA therapeutic targets for diseases. However, lncRNA conservation among species is very low, and most human lncRNAs are human-specific, so insights into lncRNA functions derived from rodent-based studies might not be applicable to human physiology. To address this challenge and to establish a system for studying human lncRNAs in a physiological context, the Cao group has recently produced humanized mice in which the mouse liver is replaced by a human one. Using this powerful model, the lab has identified a significant number of human lncRNAs that overlap with disease-associated GWAS SNPs and at the same time regulate critical aspects of energy metabolism in humanized mice. The successful applicant is expected to further study the molecular mechanisms of these human lncRNAs and to target them for the development of novel therapeutics against human diseases. In general, researches in the Cao group emphasize bridging the gaps between exciting new findings in molecular biology and therapy development of human diseases. More information on the Cao group is available at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/research/intramural/researchers/pi/cao-haiming.

QUALIFICATIONS: Interested candidates must be completing or should have obtained a Ph.D. or M.D. degree with background in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Physiology or a related discipline. Experience in RNA biology, mouse models of metabolic disorders, cancer biology and inflammatory diseases are highly desirable but not required. In general, quality of past research is more important than experience in a specific field.

SALARY/BENEFITS: This position is fully supported by NIH intramural funds and successful candidates will be offered competitive stipend/health insurance commensurate with experience and accomplishments.

Applications from women, minorities and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged. Applicants should send curriculum vitae and 3 letters of reference to be sent (via email only) to: haiming.cao@nih.gov. Applications will be continuously reviewed until the position is filled.

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